Gender Mainstreaming – WSIS 50/50 challenge

The digital gender divide is one of the largest divide in the world today. Women have less access than men to key technologies and services. They also face discrimination, negative stereotypes or social and cultural biases. Women are also less likely to pursue, or have more limited access to educational opportunities in information technology, limiting their options for a career in ICT. Ensuring women are digitally included brings significant benefits not only to them, but to their communities, economies and general development. Women are, however, hugely underrepresented in the global technology workforce.

Great strides are being made to close the gender gap, and women in technology are doing brilliant things every day. But to truly make a difference, leaders from across the sector need to come together to champion and promote the industry. By showcasing our female leaders and innovators, we will encourage more companies to think about and embrace gender diversity in technology.

A Thematic Workshop on the format of a diverse panel discussion revolving around action and best practice exchanges on gender parity and inclusiveness in the world of ICTs.

Objectives of the Panel

• Identify the main factors that constraint women participation in the ICT sector

• What can be done to resolve the digital gender divide and support SDG5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?

• Shed a light on the best practices that improve diversity makeup in workplaces